John Moriarty releases memoir, Saltwater Fella

Congratulations Moriarty Foundation co-founder Yanyuwa man John Moriarty AM on the release of his memoir, Saltwater Fella published by Melbourne University Publishing.

Saltwater Fella is John’s story of being removed from his family at 4 years of age as part of assimilationist policies and of a childhood surviving harsh routines and poverty, hunger and racism in church institutions. It tells his journey of finding out who he is through his football (soccer) skills and the start of a long career in advocacy for Aboriginal rights.

The book also includes a special section on Australia’s most highly awarded and longest running Indigenous design agency, Balarinji, also co-founded by John, highlighting the studio’s impact on Australian design and the nation’s cultural identity.

The Moriarty Foundation team joined John, along with colleagues, friends and family, to celebrate the book’s release at Gleebooks in Glebe, Sydney, on 25 November 2025.

Hosted by Koori Radio’s Lola Forester (Yuwibara/Australian South Sea Islander), with readings by Sydney Conservatorium’s Simon Kenway, the night was extra special with 23 John Moriarty Football (JMF) Community Coaches who were in Sydney for Coach Development Week, as well as JMF Inaugural Scholarship Holder, Shadeene Evans (Marra).

Thank you to Shadeene and community coaches including Roxanne Jangala (Garrwa), Brendan Fuller (Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi), Tiffany Stanley (Wiradjuri), Natasha Fuller (Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi) and Jayda Buie (Torres Strait Islander/Creole) who went up on stage to share what JMF means to them and the impacts it makes in their communities.

The night was a wonderful acknowledgement of John’s life mission which led to him co-founding Moriarty Foundation with Ros Moriarty in 2012 and the ongoing transformational impacts of our locally-led programs, John Moriarty Football and Indi Kindi.

Purchase Saltwater Fella.

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